Ribbons | Peter Pevensie

Chapter Twelve

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As Rosemary helped Peter suit up, doing up the buckles he couldn't reach, Caspian helped Lucy and Susan. "Destrier has always served me well. You are in good hands. Good luck."

Susan looked ahead, steeling her facial expressions. "Thanks." She couldn't let herself have feelings for someone who would either die on the field or stay in Narnia while she went back to England.

"Look...maybe it's time you had this back."

Susan looked down at her horn in Caspian's hands and then over at her brother, who was gently brushing the hair out of Rosemary's eyes as he whispered something to her. Oh, how she wanted to be loved by someone like Rosemary was by Peter. At least they were from the same world. "Why don't you hold on to it. You might need to call me again." She dug her heels into Destrier's sides and the horse took off. His hooves echoed through the dim tunnels as they headed to the back of the How, hoping to head into the woods without being seen by Miraz's scouts.

"'You might need to call me again'?"

"Oh, shut up." Susan rolled her eyes though nobody could see her. Rosemary's laugh echoed through the tunnels from back in the chamber and she smiled. She loved them both.

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After Susan and Lucy had taken off, Caspian had given the room to Peter and Rosemary. Peter stared down at her as she double checked his armor, making sure it was all in place.

"I'll be okay, Rosemary."

"The fight is to the death, Peter. I can't watch you die."

"I won't. Not with you watching my back again." It seemed Peter was reassuring Rosemary when she should have been reassuring him. He was the one about to fight to the death.

"Promise me that no matter how beat up you are, you won't stop fighting."

Peter smiled. "I promise. Have any more words of encouragement? Rosie."

The clanking of metal interrupted the moment as Edmund approached, dressed in full chainmail and armor. Everybody knew war would happen as revenge for the death of their King, whichever King fell. "Sorry to interrupt. Peter, it's time."

"We'll be right there." Edmund nodded and walked away, and Peter looked back at Rosemary. "So?"

Up on her tiptoes, Rosemary could press her lips to Peter's. His helmet bumped her forehead and she laughed. "I love you, Peter Pevensie. Live through this and you'll hear me say it for the rest of our lives." Peter smiled and leaned down for another kiss but Edmund's yelling had Rosemary cutting it short and pushing him to the How entrance. She'd be watching from the top of the temple with the other archers. "Go get 'em, tiger."

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In front of the stone ramp down to the How was a square slab of stone with broken pillars and two crumbling arches on opposing sides of the square. That was where the duel would take place. Narnians cheered as Peter and Edmund made their appearance, marching forward where Miraz and a few of his men were waiting.

Miraz watched as Peter walked forward with so much confidence, wondering where it came from. He was a boy - half his age at least. What made him think he could win? Miraz knew that Peter proposing such a preposterous idea meant he was desperate to save his people. But no matter - the Narnians would fall today.

Miraz pretended to adjust his armor and looked up at Glozelle on his right. "If it should appear to be going poorly..."

Glozelle understood the implication and looked at the crossbow in his hands. "Understood, Your Majesty."